The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-03
CHECK THE CONNlVANCE.
A THREATENING EVIL TO TRE
SOUTHERN LEAGUE.
Unfair Methods Which No Straight.
forward People Can Afford
to COuntenance.
JOE DlESTEL AND THE LESSON
OF The HOUR.
Memphis Again Trampled Upon by
Nashville and Her I'm.
pire.
PRESIDENT MORROW LAYSIT Al
THE DOOR OF SNERD.
A Sensation Results In C0rcOran'i
suspension General Baseball
Intelligence.

About five hundred persons Assem-
bled at CillzsDs' Park yesterday after
noon to witness the first Of series o.
four championship games to be play cd
between the Memphis and Nashville
clubs. The game was interesting
throughout. The home team should
have won, but unfair decisions
by the umpire gave the visitors
the game. The expression "besten
by the umpire" s, to use the
verI acular, a Chestnut" but as to
yesterdays game it is not, but it is far
from it. Joe Diestel officiated, or at
least he tried to umpire the game. His
base decisions were very rank, and his
calling OF balls and strikes rotten to a
disgusting extent. In fact, it seemed
that somebody had stuck pin into
him, the business end OF which told
him to be rotten. Diestel, it will be
remembered, was for time member
OF the Nashville club. He could
not play ball and was released. Imme-
diately after his release he was ap.
pointed an npire by Mr.. John Nor
row, who is president of the Nash
vile club, and also CT the Southern
League. This was a kindness on the
part OF the president, and OF course
Diestel had to appreciate 1t. But If
there ever was a rotten umpire he is
the one.
The APPEAL does not care to 90 into
details, but 1t does say that Diestel is
one OF the worst cases OF decay ever
seen, and that his rulings yesterday
were OF character calculated to effec-
tually kill baseball in the South.
The game belonged to Memphis, but
the sickenipg specimen Of an umpire
gave 1t TO Nashville by score
OF 7 to 4. Black pitch ed
nicely; 30 did Maui. Three
home runs were made, one by Doyle,
another by Andrews and the third by
Hayes, all earned by the ball being
knocked off the field.
A number of rumors were float
last night, some of them, II true,
heralding the withdrawal of Memphis
from the Southern League. 1t was
said that President Csrnes had tele-
grapbed to Nashville for an umpire,
fatty refusing to allow Diestel any
further authority over the game here.
For this he will be highly commended
by every lover of the sport in this
city and vicinity. Reports of
threatened violence to the misera Die
blight upon the otherwise able staff
also reached the police, but this was
probably wild and ungrounded. Men,
phis is not given to that sort Of retail
iatory vengeance and Diestel need
fear no harm save to his conscience, if
susceptible to remorse. Although a
sore denial, the B uff City can survive
the departure OF baseball Tor season,
and in the interval provide an al
raDgement in which uLdeIhanded
connivances play no part If
there vas 10 purpose to be
served, why did Mr.. Morrow se-
lect a man from the Nashville
club2 Stranger still, he was the very
man repeatedly announced az the
"Hugh Nlcol of the Southern L. ague,"
which every admirer of the game
fully understood as tribute to his abil-
tiles. Then again, the summary man
ner in which the dismissal and
succession was accomplished, surely
indicates the a1lmus OF the whole
business. During the State champion
ship games between the two clubs in
this city, the two fold official was a
sad faced spectator until his sensitive
soul could stand no more. He could
not tolerate the plainly apparent fact
IL at Memphis had the better team OF
tie two, and showed his hand when
the rivals met again.
Be it said to the infinite credit OF the
Nashville newspapers, they were not
80 foolishly blinded by false local
pride as to withhold merlted criticism
of Diestel in his rulings during the
games in that city. He was severely
hauled over the Goals more than once,
and in nearly every instance it was fo-
injustice to the visitors. This points
to healthy condition of
journalistic sentiment, that
will not spare those guilty
of corruption, even where local inter-
eats are subserved. In this policy
Memphis will heartily concur and keep
a close watch on this end of the line,
1t there be fraud, nip it in the bud,
though President Morrow be the
victim. Those who monkey with a
buzz saw need expect nothing but in
Jury. No city can afford 10 forge
ahead by such methods, for the sole
end and aim Of the Southern League
should be to perpetuste and elevate
the great rational game in the South.
Will such officials as Diestel and the
spirit which. prompted his appoint
ment, do itP Only one answer can be
returned, and if he is retained, Mem.
phis cannot afford to be identified
with the hippodrome.